Spirit of the North 2 is a touching and beautiful adventure game. Taking on the role of a lone fox, you are charged with saving an ancient world. However, things rarely go to plan and luck, exploration, and skill are a must if you wish to succeed. This stunning sequel builds on an incredibly strong foundation. Moreover, it includes a larger open world with many secrets and mysteries to discover.
This open-world platforming title was developed by Infuse Studio and published by Silver Lining Interactive. It is a single-player game that uses a third-person perspective. Furthermore, it is jam-packed with incredible lore, and the action flourishes as a consequence.
The Spirit of the North 2 is beautifully written.
A red murk lingers across a once beautiful and mysterious world. Different biomes punctuate this magical place. However, death, destruction, and fear run riot. The once-powerful guardians have fallen, and they cannot thrive without your help. These encounters are often testing, but you must step up to the mark if you wish to save the day.
As you explore each biome, the lone fox leaps, runs, and creeps across the terrain. Rivers, ice, fire, and hellish winds fight you every step of the way. Yet, special runes will help you to overcome the obstacles and free each animal guardian. Once a guardian is released, you are blessed with a new power. This blessing allows you to progress and piece together the broken land.
Balanced gameplay.
Spirit of the North 2 was occasionally tough to follow. Thankfully, a red stream points you to each key moment. Though this sounds like a simple navigation tool, it isn’t always that straightforward. Leaping chasms and utilising newly learned abilities were tough. However, I adore the balanced gameplay and the almost linear design.
Each key moment requires certain tools and elements to be completed before you can progress. This was rather limiting, but it prevents you from running before you can walk. The ability to enter an astral plane, fly between portals, block out harsh environments, and more must be learned to save the guardians.
The blend of boss encounters, puzzles, and platforming moments was fascinating. Though the puzzles were mainly fetch quests, it was easy to overlook minor details and derail yourself. Accordingly, an eye for detail and a huge chunk of patience go a long way.
Spirit of the North 2 looks great.
As you unlock new skills, the sense of freedom is exhilarating. Flying through the air and solving convoluted puzzles was great. Furthermore, each special biome delivers breathtaking views and plenty of dangerous moments. The rushing water, blowing winds, and snow-capped mountains were beautiful to explore.
The audio enhances the stunning atmosphere. A rich soundtrack delivers drama to the incredible lore-filled action. Moreover, the yap of the fox and the screeching of the raven were amazing to hear. The soundscape captures that mysterious ancient edge that supports the unusual story that unfolds.
Disappointing controls.
I’m Spirit of the North 2’s biggest fan. The developer has done an amazing job, mostly. However, the controls are sluggish, unresponsive, and borderline insanity inducing. I died repeatedly as I fell to my doom. I timed my jump perfectly, only for the control system to fail. This wasn’t user error, but a poorly executed layout that lets you down at the most inappropriate moments. I can only hope and pray that this issue gets ironed out in future updates.
Despite the control issues, I battled through. Exploring dark caves and climbing epic mountains was enough to keep me coming back. Moreover, there are wisps to track down, lore scrolls to discover, and plenty of minor dungeons to explore. If you are a completionist, you’ll invest 40 to 50 hours to find everything. If this doesn’t interest you, around 20 hours will be enough to tackle the main story and every key element.
Spirit of the North 2 is truly magical.
I was drawn into this Nordic world from the off. Spirit of the North 2 is a phenomenal game that reinvigorates your childish imagination. Every juicy layer of lore and ever-changing environment was spectacular to witness. Additionally, the cutscenes between the fox and the freed guardians touch your soul. Accordingly, this is truly magical and I recommend buying it here! Is 1 fox powerful enough to save the day? Explore the world, unlock new runes, and save every guardian.
